The wilder side of Cape Town
Cape Town the mother city, land of peace harmony and loads of fun but what few people realize is that Cape Town and the Western Cape Province have quite a few strategically placed reserves where you can discover all types of wondrous fauna, animal life and exquisite beauty. Things such as Poisonous snakes and the none lethal variety, different types of antelope, reptiles and bird life are abound in these reserves where the delicate eco balance is harmoniously at work to balance out life in these secluded areas.
This article is a list of the different reserves and the type of animal and plant life available within. I will also try to supply a link to each reserve where-ever one is available.
The Table mountain National park, is a beautiful reserve set almost entirely in the greater Cape Town Metropolitan area, incidentally it is the only reserve in the world of its type that has such a richness of beauty and biodiversity. Here you can find the world renowned fynbos, Jackass penguins and breathtaking whale sittings and breaching. If you are lucky then you will also spot some of the smaller antelope, reptile and bird species that inhabit the area. For information of this go to
The west coast national park is famous for its spectacular scenery and incredible variety of seabirds. Situated just inland from the secluded harbor of Saldanah the park boast the azure waters of Langebaan lagoon as its focal point. Species to look out for are the Cape Gannet, Jackass (African) penguin, Flamingo’s, Waders, and Black Harrier. Go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/west_coast/ for more information.
The Cederberg wilderness area is named after the rare Clanwilliam Cedar tree and encompasses 71000 Ha or mountainous terrain. Fynbos is the main type of fauna to be found here with a diverse amount of animal species such as Baboons, dassies, grey rhebok, klipspringers, duiker and grysbok which are common. You also may be lucky enough to find porcupine, honey badger, Cape clawless otter and aardvark but these are rare and not easily spotted. The main predator in the reserve is the leopard but you can also find the African wild cat, lynx, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and Cape fox wondering around. For more information go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Cederberg+Wilderness+Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness area covers about 30608 ha and has many endangered fauna and animal species within its borders. The main vegetation type is fynbos and the reserve has the threatened Sorocephalus scabridus, a member of the protea family, growing at Kliphuisvlakte. A variety of animals abide here including the more commonly seen Klipspringers, grey rhebok and grysbok and the lesser seen Leopard, Caracal, wild cat, mongoose, genet. There are 100 different types of bird species including Cape rockjumper and numerous raptors like black eagle, goshawk and jackal buzzard. For any needs go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Groot+Winterhoek+Wilderness+Area&PHPSESSID=c614b909887ae2843b70d24e67809a9c#reserve_tabs
Anysberg Nature Reserve occurs within the Cape Fold Mountains and comprises an area of 62500 ha. The terrain runs from gentle plains to rugged mountain scenery, it has a variety of plant life from succulents to proteas and some amazing animal life such as steenbok, duiker, gemsbok, red hartebeest, Leopard, black-backed jackal and caracal. The Reptile species include tortoise, boomslang, Cape cobra and puff adder. To find out more go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Anysberg+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs
Hottentot Holland nature reserve is a 42000 ha nature reserve set in the Hottentots Holland mountain range. The reserve is there to protect the indigenous mountain fynbos and a few animals such as Grey Rhebok, klipspringer, common duiker, grysbok and Leopard can be found there. Go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Hottentots+Holland+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs to find out more about this rugged reserve.
De Hoop nature reserve forms as a part of one of the worlds most threatened plant kingdoms. The cape floral kingdom has fynbos as its main vegetation group and is largely confined to nutrient poor soils in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape. It is the largest reserve for this type of fauna having approximately 1500 of the 9000 species in the kingdom. For more information go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=De+Hoop+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs
Bontebok national park is an amazing park all round. Named after the Bontebok that inhabits it, the species were on a brink of extension numbering only 17 and have been bought back to life, so to say, numbering 3000 today. Bontebok isn’t all you can find in the park though it is home to over 200 bird species, has Renoster veld (grows in nutrient rich soil types) and fynbos (grows in nutrient poor soil types) within its kingdom and a wide variety of animal species. The 5 major sites to see are Bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra, Stanley’s Bustard Breede River, and Lang Elsie’s Kraal. For more information go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/bontebok/
Sanbona wildlife reserve is a wild game reserve in the heart of the Little Karoo. It is a 54000 ha reserve with rock art and big cats, it is incidentally the first private reserve in the Western Cape to have free roaming big cats roaming around its interior. It has a good variety of big game and is also home to the rare ravine rabbit. To find out more about specials and visiting the spectacular reserve then go to http://www.sanbona.com/properties/?MicroSiteID=3
Swartberg nature reserve can be found in the Oudtshoorn district and is bordered by the Gamkapoort nature reserve to the north and the Towerkop nature reserve to the south; these two reserves are incidentally not open to the public but run in conjunction with Swartberg nature reserve. The entire conservation area together is a staggering 180000ha large and is critical to the management of mountain catchments and water yields in the area. The area has an amazing diversity of plant life and some of the classifications are featuring Renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom veld, and numerous geophyte species. It is also home to many animal species including klipspringer, grey Rhebok, kudu, baboon, dassies, springbok, Leopard and caracal. For more info go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Swartberg+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs
Karoo national Park is a harsh environment where many species have adapted to living in the harshest of areas. Many species of animal to be found in the park have always been naturally found there but a few species have been reintroduced into the eco system such as black rhino and buffalo, and Cape mountain zebra. There are also over 20 breeding pairs of black eagle who have found sanctuary within the park. For more information go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/karoo/
These diverse areas in the Western Cape show the amazing beauty that this area does have to offer. So next time you come to the Cape don’t only think sun sea sand and fun since there is so much more to do. Plan your trip carefully and if you want to get around come and hire a car from us at www.wisewheels.co.za
This article is a list of the different reserves and the type of animal and plant life available within. I will also try to supply a link to each reserve where-ever one is available.
The Table mountain National park, is a beautiful reserve set almost entirely in the greater Cape Town Metropolitan area, incidentally it is the only reserve in the world of its type that has such a richness of beauty and biodiversity. Here you can find the world renowned fynbos, Jackass penguins and breathtaking whale sittings and breaching. If you are lucky then you will also spot some of the smaller antelope, reptile and bird species that inhabit the area. For information of this go to
The west coast national park is famous for its spectacular scenery and incredible variety of seabirds. Situated just inland from the secluded harbor of Saldanah the park boast the azure waters of Langebaan lagoon as its focal point. Species to look out for are the Cape Gannet, Jackass (African) penguin, Flamingo’s, Waders, and Black Harrier. Go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/west_coast/ for more information.
The Cederberg wilderness area is named after the rare Clanwilliam Cedar tree and encompasses 71000 Ha or mountainous terrain. Fynbos is the main type of fauna to be found here with a diverse amount of animal species such as Baboons, dassies, grey rhebok, klipspringers, duiker and grysbok which are common. You also may be lucky enough to find porcupine, honey badger, Cape clawless otter and aardvark but these are rare and not easily spotted. The main predator in the reserve is the leopard but you can also find the African wild cat, lynx, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and Cape fox wondering around. For more information go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Cederberg+Wilderness+Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness area covers about 30608 ha and has many endangered fauna and animal species within its borders. The main vegetation type is fynbos and the reserve has the threatened Sorocephalus scabridus, a member of the protea family, growing at Kliphuisvlakte. A variety of animals abide here including the more commonly seen Klipspringers, grey rhebok and grysbok and the lesser seen Leopard, Caracal, wild cat, mongoose, genet. There are 100 different types of bird species including Cape rockjumper and numerous raptors like black eagle, goshawk and jackal buzzard. For any needs go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Groot+Winterhoek+Wilderness+Area&PHPSESSID=c614b909887ae2843b70d24e67809a9c#reserve_tabs
Anysberg Nature Reserve occurs within the Cape Fold Mountains and comprises an area of 62500 ha. The terrain runs from gentle plains to rugged mountain scenery, it has a variety of plant life from succulents to proteas and some amazing animal life such as steenbok, duiker, gemsbok, red hartebeest, Leopard, black-backed jackal and caracal. The Reptile species include tortoise, boomslang, Cape cobra and puff adder. To find out more go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Anysberg+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs
Hottentot Holland nature reserve is a 42000 ha nature reserve set in the Hottentots Holland mountain range. The reserve is there to protect the indigenous mountain fynbos and a few animals such as Grey Rhebok, klipspringer, common duiker, grysbok and Leopard can be found there. Go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Hottentots+Holland+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs to find out more about this rugged reserve.
De Hoop nature reserve forms as a part of one of the worlds most threatened plant kingdoms. The cape floral kingdom has fynbos as its main vegetation group and is largely confined to nutrient poor soils in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape. It is the largest reserve for this type of fauna having approximately 1500 of the 9000 species in the kingdom. For more information go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=De+Hoop+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs
Bontebok national park is an amazing park all round. Named after the Bontebok that inhabits it, the species were on a brink of extension numbering only 17 and have been bought back to life, so to say, numbering 3000 today. Bontebok isn’t all you can find in the park though it is home to over 200 bird species, has Renoster veld (grows in nutrient rich soil types) and fynbos (grows in nutrient poor soil types) within its kingdom and a wide variety of animal species. The 5 major sites to see are Bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra, Stanley’s Bustard Breede River, and Lang Elsie’s Kraal. For more information go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/bontebok/
Sanbona wildlife reserve is a wild game reserve in the heart of the Little Karoo. It is a 54000 ha reserve with rock art and big cats, it is incidentally the first private reserve in the Western Cape to have free roaming big cats roaming around its interior. It has a good variety of big game and is also home to the rare ravine rabbit. To find out more about specials and visiting the spectacular reserve then go to http://www.sanbona.com/properties/?MicroSiteID=3
Swartberg nature reserve can be found in the Oudtshoorn district and is bordered by the Gamkapoort nature reserve to the north and the Towerkop nature reserve to the south; these two reserves are incidentally not open to the public but run in conjunction with Swartberg nature reserve. The entire conservation area together is a staggering 180000ha large and is critical to the management of mountain catchments and water yields in the area. The area has an amazing diversity of plant life and some of the classifications are featuring Renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom veld, and numerous geophyte species. It is also home to many animal species including klipspringer, grey Rhebok, kudu, baboon, dassies, springbok, Leopard and caracal. For more info go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Swartberg+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs
Karoo national Park is a harsh environment where many species have adapted to living in the harshest of areas. Many species of animal to be found in the park have always been naturally found there but a few species have been reintroduced into the eco system such as black rhino and buffalo, and Cape mountain zebra. There are also over 20 breeding pairs of black eagle who have found sanctuary within the park. For more information go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/karoo/
These diverse areas in the Western Cape show the amazing beauty that this area does have to offer. So next time you come to the Cape don’t only think sun sea sand and fun since there is so much more to do. Plan your trip carefully and if you want to get around come and hire a car from us at www.wisewheels.co.za
Labels: Cape Town - General, Cape Town Holiday
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